The Romanian Patriarchate firmly reaffirms its pro-life position, and it upholds respect for the unborn children’s fundamental right to life, while also urging concrete support for women in pregnancy crisis situations who are facing major material, social, and emotional difficulties.
From 1958 to the present, more than 23 million abortions have been recorded in Romania. One of the dramatic consequences of this phenomenon, which can be observed today, is the current demographic crisis, reflected in a negative natural increase, leading to a decrease in our population by approximately one million persons per decade.
According to Christian Orthodox teaching, human life begins at the moment of conception, and the unborn child is a person with a living soul. Abortion represents the suppression of a fundamental right – the right to life. This truth is confessed in the Holy Scripture: “from my mother’s womb You have been my God” (Psalms 22:10) and “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5).
The Romanian Patriarchate considers that the March for Life, now in its 16th edition – taking place throughout the month of March in over 1,100 cities and towns across the country – constitutes a beneficial initiative aimed at drawing attention to respect for the unborn children’s right to life and to the grave demographic crisis affecting Romanian society. The event also promotes solidarity and support for women in pregnancy crisis situations.
In the Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Christian Family, the Romanian Patriarchate urges all dioceses to support pregnant women in difficulty, to encourage the fathers of unborn children to assume their natural responsibility towards both mother and child, and to provide, through parishes, monasteries, and social-philanthropic centres, material assistance and spiritual guidance, so that the child’s life may be protected through the solidarity of both parents and of the community.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
Photo credit: Basilica.ro Archive
